7 Web Design Mistakes Small Businesses Should Avoid

Today’s tech-savvy users can tell a bad website from a good website almost at a glance. If it’s uninviting or outdated, they will most likely just leave. There are many popular websites with bad design, but those are exceptions to the rule.&nbsp; For example, Google is the most popular website in the world, but its design is strikingly simple. Competitors tried to make something fancier but failed, leaving Google the undisputed leader of search engines. What is the lesson? It’s best to avoid clutter and focus on important things.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/" target="_blank" class="ql-bg-transparent ql-color-#1155cc"><a class="external" href="https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Berkshire Hathaway</a></a> is even simpler than Wikipedia, since it doesn’t have any pictures. Its design is obviously outdated, and even the logo is a plain text in Times New Roman. If not for fresh articles and updates, it’s hard to believe that it’s an actual functioning website and not some dinosaur from the 90s. Yet the owner of this precious example of spartan minimalism is Warren Buffett, one of the richest people alive. It belongs to his investment company, Berkshire Hathaway. [code]&lt;div data-autopilot="F141EACB-67EA-4E3A-BFEA-046F289DD9CA"&gt;&lt;div class="convertful-137195"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;[/code] The website doesn’t aim at gathering leads or attention, it only fulfills the legal requirements of publishing documents. Berkshire Hathaway might be an example of the worst website design, but it works, and that’s all it should do. The lesson here is that if a business already makes lots of money, or operates way outside the Internet, you may not bother to make your web page attractive. These two simple examples prove that website virtues include much more than pretty visuals. Berkshire Hathaway and especially Google perform their functions well. Google is also liked by people of any age and status, so it’s more about the value your website can provide and the reliable user experience (UX) than mere user interface (UI) design. Ecommerce websites can’t afford such blunt simplicity. To most customers, it may seem like the site owner doesn’t particularly care.&nbsp; Businesses need to be extra cautious about their online presence. The highly competitive environment leaves little room for mistakes when building landing pages — especially the company’s website or online store. The risks are high for small business web development if an established reputation or budget is an issue. The good news is that, regardless of the size, businesses can, at the very least, adhere to best practices of website design and avoid common mistakes.<img src="http://onix-systems.com/web/uploads/_dSFXjmXOl7rcWalduIqp_56dfsmSCBE.jpg"><h2> </h2><h2>Most Common Web Design Mistakes</h2>1. Template instead of custom design. Template design is not a bad way to start or if you have a limited budget. A skilled web developer may work miracles even when using templates, but the result may not create a unique impression when compared with a clever custom-built website. It is usually better to aim for a tailored design, even if it’s a simple eCommerce website. Your small online business may grow fast and outgrow the limited features available in the template.&nbsp; 2. Poor user experience design. A clumsy, unclear website structure and navigation are among the worst web design mistakes that may occur. If first-time visitors can’t find the essentials easily, or if the webpage looks dull or untidy, they’ll quickly lose interest or patience and will leave for good.&nbsp; <a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/what-is-user-experience-audit-and-why-is-it-useful" target="_blank"><img src="http://onix-systems.com/web/uploads/pwP-9Pr1JoATBalZrmNucU0UY9F0eFMy.png"></a> 3. Too much or too little information. You don’t want to overwhelm your customers or leave them with even more questions than before visiting your website. Try to avoid cascades of images and text. Instead, offer balanced amounts of up-to-date informative text and visual content that corresponds to your business goals. 4. Unclear call-to-actions. Get creative with your CTA, but try to keep them simple. Also, people would like to know what they are gaining from taking action and what information they must provide to gain that. So it should be strict to the point, not annoying, and not messy. 5. Wrong advertisement placement. Advertising banners are one of the most popular instruments of online marketing, and it’s hard to have a website that doesn’t have them. However, the placement of ads on your website needs to be designed carefully so they don’t overlap essential information and don’t damage site usability. 6. Non-responsive design. It is rare today to see a website that is not mobile-friendly, but it still happens. If users can’t easily navigate and view a website on their mobile device, it severely reduces the target audience. A few users will be persistent and struggle to find what they need, but those users are rare.<img src="http://onix-systems.com/web/uploads/pBRcvdWDYI1xW-QxcGRh3ZA6uRknScVD.jpg">7. Trying to please everyone. Keep in mind your ideal customer first. If they are serious adults, then your website should target them with a highly professional style. If they’re young and fun, your website should also reflect this, starting with the color scheme. It won’t be as effective if you try to combine two or more styles into one website design.&nbsp; The universal popularity of Google doesn’t mean that you need to make the simplest website possible and hope it achieves great success. It largely depends on your business’ specifics and goals. Sometimes this calls for simplicity. Explore your target audience, focus on what matters most to them, and give them the features that they most need. Ask these following questions: <ul><li>What are they looking for on your website?</li><li>What will aid them in their search?</li><li>What distracts and annoys them?</li></ul> <h2>How to Set Up a Small Business Website?</h2>The most common website design mistakes often occur when small business owners are trying to make a DIY website. They hope to save money and have more control over their creation, but this approach may not necessarily work as they hope. Without the assistance of a web design expert, they may overlook some general concepts of good design and make costly errors. As a business owner, you can try to design your own site, but you may have other tasks to attend to that you are more skilled at. Sometimes it is wiser to leave certain jobs to professionals. They can transform your ideas into website sections and blocks, help to create corresponding CTAs and tune your site according to your goals.&nbsp; It is highly recommended to engage a <a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/important-hints-and-tips-to-choose-a-web-development-company" target="_blank" class="ql-bg-transparent ql-color-#1155cc">web design company</a>. Professional software design and development companies will cover all the nuances that you may miss. They can help to ensure your website loads fast, looks attractive, and is up to date. Your customers will enjoy a smooth, pleasant website experience. Professionals may also optimize the pages, increasing your website’s visibility to search engines, and will help you add features when needed. Professionals help to reduce web design mistakes which might stand in your way of success. <a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/important-hints-and-tips-to-choose-a-web-development-company" target="_blank"><img src="http://onix-systems.com/web/uploads/IsJlfys2wS78iT13fSdkRTS23833f93K.png"></a> If you need help with presenting your business online, don’t hesitate to <a href="https://onix-systems.com/contact-us" target="_blank" class="ql-bg-transparent ql-color-#1155cc">contact us</a>. With your own ideas and Onix’ broad experience in developing landing pages, websites, and mobile applications, your business can prosper.&nbsp;

A website’s look may be key to its success. What are the key mistakes to avoid when building a site for your business?

How Much Does It Cost to Design a Mobile App: Price Estimation Guide

Looking for mobile app design cost? In our article, you'll learn what factors influence an app design price and how to reduce design costs.

Mobile App Design Cost: How to Estimate an App Design Price - Onix

How to Hire a UX Designer If You Have Never Done It Before

So, you need to hire a UX designer (user experience designer), and you suspect that it’s not easy. After all, UX designers are the ones who fine-tune customer satisfaction. Naturally, you’ll want all the help you can get, considering the numerous factors in play, such as your business goals and the details of your project. In this post, let’s learn about what a UX designer does and, what is the difference between a UX designer and a graphic designer’s work. We will explore how the UX design market works, and also what makes a good UX designer. <h2>Why Choose a User Experience Designer Over a Designer?</h2>As noted earlier, “UX” stands for “user experience.” A successful user experience design ultimately means the user won’t be confused when interfacing with your product or service and will intuitively understand how to use it. A competent UX designer ensures user experiences are smooth, seamless, fun and productive. Let’s look at an example. Imagine a beautiful, perfectly crafted teacup, but its handle is so thin you can’t hold it because it feels like it can slip off at any moment. You try to use it without the handle, holding the bowl, but the tea in the cup burns your fingers. You can buy a teacup sweater, but it would ruin the visual design of the cup. You can pour less water and hold it close to the top. But what’s the point of having a nice cup if you need to make your tea twice to have a full cup of tea? This is how a bad UX design feels like. Eventually, you put this pretty cup in the sideboard and go back to drinking tea from your old mug that has a secure handle, thick bowl and can hold as much tea as you like. A good UX design is NOT about reinventing the wheel. It’s about making it more user-friendly. Now let’s turn to UI design. You’ve probably encountered a similar term in Google search results as a “UX/UI designer.” UI stands for “user interface” design and focuses on how digital products look, while the focus of UX lies in showing off the functionality and purpose of the product. UI is responsible for the creative and visual pieces of a website or mobile app. This is what makes the teacup from the previous example so beautiful. Placing the web page elements, selecting colors and forms — this is what UI does. We should also note that the tasks of UI/UX designers and graphic designers or visual designers are not interchangeable. The main difference is that graphic design does not exclusively belong to IT and is the most classic form of design that deals with business cards, billboards, and static graphic images that you can see all over the internet and sometimes as a brand design. A visual designer is a specialist who combines the skills of a graphic and UI designer. This means that the main focus is on the looks and aesthetic while UI/UX design is about planning, testing, organizing and creating visuals of the website or app. You can guess what happens if you hire a graphic designer or visual designer rather than employing a UI/UX expert.&nbsp; User experience is also often mistakenly confused with information architecture. Information architecture is a blueprint of the design structure. A UX designer uses it when planning the overall design flow.&nbsp;<img src="http://onix-systems.com/web/uploads/itdKWLKzqoVZxWs5-DJXQzxTfbHpVW7S.png"><h2>How the Market of UX Design Works&nbsp;</h2>While considering how to hire a UX designer, you may become confused about why one designer wants more money for the same job. Of course, it is always easy to select the lower price quote, but a less skilled UX designer may cause your project to be delayed or even to fail.&nbsp; Let’s take a look at some of the most important factors that determine the cost of a UI/UX designer’s services. 1. Freelancers vs. outsourced team of designers&nbsp;Freelancers often charge less than IT outsourcing providers. This is because they work alone and don’t have the expense of an office. But freelance workers may not always meet obligations. If they miss a deadline, they simply won’t get paid. On the other hand, outsourcing providers work is to maximize the profitability of the resources at hand and they will be a perfect fit if you need flexibility. IT outsourcing providers may have higher rates, but they can offer broader experience and more versatile solutions. They usually handle the project management role themselves. It is often easier to reach an agreement with the outsourcing party because they are experienced in business processes and interested in delivering an exceptional product or service to benefit all parties.&nbsp; 2. Geographic location&nbsp;As you consider the choice between freelance or outsource, remember that the cost will depend on the local market, the economic situation in the country they are based in and the overall cost of living. The average hourly rate will be $50 for US-based specialists, as stated by <a href="https://www.upwork.com/hiring/development/cost-to-hire-ux-designer/" target="_blank" class="ql-bg-transparent ql-color-#1155cc"><a class="external" href="https://www.upwork.com/hiring/development/cost-to-hire-ux-designer/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Upwork</a></a>. Now let’s see where you’ll pay less and where more based on geography. <ul><li>North America and Western Europe will be more costly. Mainly because most of the countries there have higher living costs.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Eastern Europe. Many companies from the US work with outsourcing providers from Ukraine or Poland due to their lower rates, the same level of expertise and a big talent pool.&nbsp;</li><li>Asia. Cost rates for Asia and Eastern Europe are nearly the same but keep in mind possible cultural differences.&nbsp;</li></ul> 3. Development complexity of the projectUI/UX designer work consists of several stages, including researching, <a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/a-step-by-step-guide-how-to-get-an-idea-made-into-a-prototype" target="_blank" class="ql-bg-transparent ql-color-#1155cc">prototyping</a>, visualization, and usability testing. The job is complex and if you anticipate your project&nbsp; combining several of these elements, the task becomes even more complex, since each element should be tested separately and then tested later in a combined form. How is the complex process estimated? A team of experienced UX designers will provide a quote based on the amount of time and effort they need to get the job done. The details may vary from team to team, but it should be thorough enough to take possible variables into account.&nbsp; If your project is a basic software product or service, such as a landing page or a site that needs only a few elements, accordingly the price will be less than a complex project.&nbsp; <h2>What Makes a Good UX Designer?</h2>UX design is not new. A competent UX designer will likely have some graphic design background. The skills of a good UX designer can be divided into two categories — design skills and people skills. Careful evaluation of these skills will give you a more complete picture of your future colleagues and help you decide if they are the best candidate for your project.<img src="http://onix-systems.com/web/uploads/ffstt2SyAl-65XgAMndruFRkxUVo2lsA.png">To test design skills you should check the designers’ portfolio, ask questions about their past projects and provide some test tasks.<ol><li>Ask about their experience. Is it sufficient to complete your task and create a good design?</li><li>Ask them about their interpretation of a user-centered approach. How did they use it previously in their work? What is their user research routine?&nbsp;</li><li>Ask how they solve problems. This includes what problems they’ve encountered before, how quickly they resolved them, and how they solve and prioritize these.</li><li>Test their strategic thinking. How do they balance the customer’s business goals and a user’s expectations? How does their work fit into the users’ experience?</li><li>Test their creativity. What are their ideas? Do they look fresh and original?</li><li>Explore their visual approach. Is it appropriate for the end-user?</li></ol> You can also check their people skills through interviews or correspondence. If possible, it is always better to use both. You, or your hiring manager, should focus on the following: 1. Communication skills&nbsp;During the interview, pay attention to how well they listen to what you say, and how they answer your questions. Are they clear and persuasive in their responses?2. Their values&nbsp;Do their business values seem appropriate and are they similar to yours? How well do they understand your company’s business?3. Collaboration skills&nbsp;You should ask about their previous teamwork experience. Find out how well they managed previous projects and how closely they worked with their clients.&nbsp;4. ObjectivenessA good UX designer should take complete responsibility for their decisions and the final results. If the candidates you have spoken with possess these skills mentioned above, then your search for good UX designers is probably complete. However, great experience design can be created if you <a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/matters-of-the-heart-how-to-measure-ui-and-ux-design" target="_blank" class="ql-bg-transparent ql-color-#1155cc">understand the whole journey of your product development</a> (an app or a site). You can’t persuade a user to stay on your website or make a purchase if there is only a great aesthetic. You should think about UX as well. Before you start working on the great design, be clear and certain about your objectives. We hope you will <a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/a-step-by-step-guide-how-to-get-an-idea-made-into-a-prototype" target="_blank" class="ql-bg-transparent ql-color-#1155cc">contact us</a> as you consider evaluating UI/UX designers. The <a href="https://onix.kr.ua/" target="_blank" class="ql-bg-transparent ql-color-#1155cc">Onix team</a> has years of experience to help ensure a successful result for your next project.

If you’re starting a search for a good UX designer, you can find some essentials for what makes a good UX designer in this article.



What Is User Experience Audit and Why Is It Useful?

A professional UI/UX audit can bring significant data-driven changes to your website, increasing both customer satisfaction and ROI. Read on to learn more!

How to Get an Idea Made Into a Prototype Step by Step

Do you have a mobile app idea and you wonder how you can easily check its relevance? Well, designers can help you by preparing a prototype of your future app. Thanks to a ready-made prototype, people will have a much better idea about the purpose of the future app and what target audience it is supposed to reach. Prototyping will help to save both your time and money while keeping you and a designer on the same wavelength regarding your app idea design. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; So, if you’d like to know how to get an idea made into a prototype and why it’s crucial, keep on reading this blog post. In the process, you will also learn about the differences between a low- and high-fidelity prototyping and how they help to turn an app idea into a final design. <h2>How Prototyping Helps to Evaluate the Value of a Design Idea </h2>The primary purpose of prototyping is the evaluation of an app idea before the product’s layout has been fully designed. So, prototyping: <ul><li>makes sure your design idea is implemented as intended</li><li>determines if end-users can use the product (it helps to spot and fix potential usability problems). </li></ul> Now, let’s take a look at how an idea is transformed into a prototype. <h2>How to Have an Idea Made into a Prototype Step by Step </h2><img src="http://onix-systems.com/web/uploads/2184DpjMbWFYLBYpm9vFTnX0MHFM6cgz.jpg">Designers follow these steps to validate (approve) app ideas in the design process. <h3>Step 1: Identifying the App Goal &amp; its Key Features</h3><img src="http://onix-systems.com/web/uploads/42pkwLn5ac1IstlBotIyd2xwyr8GSApx.png">Clients contact designers with different ideas about how they see their app design. Some clients come with a vague idea of what they want. Others come with clear-cut concepts and even some sketches. A rare few are able to share the full design of the future app. By and large, clients come with very rough ideas that need validation. Generally, such factors as competition, business industry, and audience goals can’t be ignored when brainstorming for a niche in the app market. Thus, design specialists help their clients by confirming their ideas through questions like: <ul><li>What kind of IT solution will this future app bring?</li><li>Does the app meet a real business or consumer need?</li></ul> For instance, you might want to create an app which intends to address healthcare issues or environmental problems. So, clarity brings a more precise understanding of the app’s future objective. &nbsp; Once the goal has been defined, the product’s features are brainstormed. Designers start brainstorming ideas to make up a list of key functionality requirements for the future product. At this stage, they identify features that will make the app viable and functional. <h3>Step 2: Sketching Primary Screens &amp; Wireframing</h3><img src="http://onix-systems.com/web/uploads/r036AIcQZ5BVWzBtmilyHfR945Wn67Ya.png"> At this stage, clients check all screen sketches to see if their initial concept has been fully grasped (the app’s complexity is also checked, etc.). If the concept was understood, then designers start creating wireframes. A wireframe is a layout of a mobile app (a sort of basic structure of a screen) that demonstrates what interface elements appear on screens of the potential product. Wireframing defines the structure of an app before the full-blown phase of designing took place. Wireframes are necessary so that all the parties (designers and clients) stay on the same page and can agree on the workflow. Then design masters create a clickable design of the wireframes so that the client can actually click the buttons of the app-to-be. In fact, the screens have the feel of a real mobile app, but it’s not fully functional yet. The clients can click the links and go to other screens (but they are nothing more than simply linked pictures). <h3>Step 3: Turning Wireframes into Prototypes</h3>Prototypes come in all shapes and sizes, from analog paper prototypes all the way to virtual 3D models. The requirements for a prototype are higher than for wireframes. At this juncture, design teams share the working prototype with their clients for testing purpose. Design specialists use a number of mobile prototyping tools moving from the initial app concept all the way to the interactive prototype. Design artisans create user interface (UI) design with the help of <a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/why-prefer-sketch-over-other-interface-design-tools" target="_blank" class="ql-bg-transparent ql-color-#1155cc">Sketch</a> and InVision. InvisionApp is one of the most common prototyping tools used for making basic prototypes, while Sketch is a design app used by designers to create UI, mobile, web, and icon design. Sketch plugins allow creating wireframes and prototypes. You can get further information about Sketch, InVision and 3 other top user experience prototyping tools (UXPin, Webflow, Axure) in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9kmWdqYZWg" target="_blank" class="ql-bg-transparent ql-color-#1155cc"><a class="external" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9kmWdqYZWg" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">this video</a></a>. Speaking of prototyping, we can’t avoid the concept of “fidelity.” This concept refers to the number of details and completeness of the design. Generally, prototyping is divided into two distinct categories: <ol><li>low-fidelity prototypes (low-fidelity prototyping) - low cost, fewer details, rough and quick to build models.</li><li>high-fidelity prototypes (high-fidelity prototyping) - very detailed, and much closer to the final design. </li></ol> Designers also run usability testing of low-fidelity prototypes to make sure the app functions as the client had envisioned it in the first place. This testing involves several focus groups who use the app to see how functional and responsive it is. Generally speaking, design gurus work moving gradually from low to high-fidelity prototyping (from simple design to more complex, from the big picture to minutiae of the screen). <h3>Step 4: The Final Design</h3><img src="http://onix-systems.com/web/uploads/s_fPUO98OE9zDRv1c1dqyhysj1TbORuM.png">A <a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/secrets-to-successful-ios-app-interface-design" target="_blank" class="ql-bg-transparent ql-color-#1155cc">user interface UI design</a> is the final milestone in this process. The actual work on the design of a mobile app takes place after the prototype has been approved by all parties. Designing is about finalizing the app design idea: a consensus on colors is achieved; the shape of buttons is finalized - in a word, it’s the final settlement on the visual design. &nbsp; When the design work is completed, it is tested to check the validity of chosen UI solutions and the appeal of visual elements. In fact, there can be several interactions, when there’s a need to modify the design. The prototype helps developers to understand where links between the screens are. If the client is satisfied with the app prototype, then computer engineers start writing code for the app (this stage can last from several months to a year). <h2>To Wrap Up </h2><img src="http://onix-systems.com/web/uploads/mrGQd6ygSKopkud3LiCFtWl5xD9RmWc_.jpg">We’ve addressed the question of how to get an idea made into a prototype. We’ve also argued that prototyping is a crucial part of the design process as it helps to easily validate app ideas. Design specialists create prototypes to check if the initial screens of the product are in line with a client’s vision. Before the app solution is delivered, an input is gleaned from clients to make sure their needs and expectations have been included into the prototype. Prototyping can be called an “insurance policy”. It helps to save your time and minimize costs. Do you have an idea that you want to turn into a mobile app? Feel free to <a href="https://onix-systems.com/contact-us" target="_blank" class="ql-bg-transparent ql-color-#1155cc">contact us</a> for further information about assistance with prototyping. Many thanks to the manager Sergey Shevchenko at <a href="https://onix-systems.com/ui-ux-design-and-development" target="_blank" class="ql-bg-transparent ql-color-#1155cc">Onix Design</a> for the assistance! <a href="https://www.behance.net/gallery/81751251/Mani-Book-Beauty" target="_blank"><img src="http://onix-systems.com/web/uploads/wBpOz9lxlfn-XphugLhSZhF5pccZDgqN.png"></a>

Learn why prototyping is crucial for your app idea design and how to create an app prototype from an initial raw idea step by step.

9 Tips for a Selling eCommerce Website Architecture

Learn about eCommerce website design and architecture. What features can help you stand out head and shoulders above the rivals. Your company’s income depends on it!

UI/UX Design KPIs: How to Measure Design Performance

A product’s UI/UX design needs constant measuring and improvement. Here are tips on how to evaluate user experience design, based on Onix’s experience.

Web Design for E-commerce: Mistakes to Avoid

The primary purpose of every e-commerce website is to sell. This includes attracting large numbers of visitors, convincing them to buy, and retaining first time buyers as future customers. Сompanies spend huge amounts of time, effort, and money on digital marketing and other activities to drive traffic to their online stores. Competition is fierce as they are struggling for each and every customer. Given these high stakes, losing customers due to web design defects is expensive and painful.&nbsp;We don’t mean to say that a faulty homepage will sink your ship. Usually, it’s more complex e-commerce mistakes that are the culprit. Still, isn’t it wise to check the rigging? Can your product page be better at converting leads which you worked so hard to bring there? Is there something disrupting the sales process? Does the website provide a top-notch shopping experience?&nbsp;A blog post does not generally provide enough space to thoroughly examine a complete list of all possible mistakes. However, we have condensed the most common problems into five groups. If you plan to run an online store, be aware of these. If your current site is causing you some concern, you might pick up a few improvement ideas to help you out.&nbsp;<h2>1. Wrong Imagery, Layout, and Visual Style</h2>A visitor forms a first impression of a business within seconds of being on its website. A cluttered, flashy, and loud webpage is not inviting. Subpar photos, a lackluster value proposition, and an outdated brand can add to an already negative impression. &nbsp;Luckily, the most apparent shortcomings are also among the easiest to correct. If you can’t completely overhaul the website, you should pay attention to those things first. Small and incremental enhancements may increase conversion rates without most visitors even noticing the changes. Every pixel, every picture, every shade, and every word matters. De-cluttering improves the look and usability of a webpage but excessive white space can make it feel too long. &nbsp;Neglecting your customers is one of the worst mistakes you can make. Without an analysis of the users’ behavior and research into the needs and preferences of your target groups, you won’t be able to make the visual design, calls-to-action, and other essentials most appealing to them. &nbsp;One thing is for sure: stock images don’t appeal to anyone. They occupy the precious space of an online store but don’t showcase your products or say anything about your unique business. Looking careless, they can ruin an otherwise good design and damage the perception of your business.&nbsp;Talking about corporate identity, a superb logo is more than a homepage element. Like the whole website, it must elicit a successful, professional feel. Your logo and company name should reflect not only what you're selling currently but also your future opportunities. If you feel your company symbol holds you back, it’s high time for a <a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/the-x-factor-how-the-logo-for-your-business-should-be-designed" target="_blank" class="ql-color-#1155cc" style="font-size: 18px;">new one</a>.&nbsp;Don’t waste the ‘above-the-fold’ space of your homepage. It takes just milliseconds for an average online surfer to decide whether to stay or leave. You won’t keep such quick visitors without a killer value proposition. The headline needs to be clear and concise. Support it with a classy authentic hero image (like Onix designers did in the design below). <img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/xQ9IOYliGpOJ-1ARGcD6L71GIpsLydK-.jpg" alt="what makes a good ecommerce site"> A short, mute yet impressive autoplaying video is even more effective but still not the end of all worries. If you fail to highlight discounts, new branded goods or special deals immediately, you risk losing the interest of both new and recurring online shoppers. It’s recommended to place eye-catching offers or news of a sales time period on the upper part of a homepage. And don’t forget to emphasize free shipping or other similar enticements if you have them.&nbsp;A product page must have all the essential selling elements above the fold. One of the worst things that can happen is for the product image(s) to conflict with the description.&nbsp;Poor images on e-commerce stores not only increase the bounce rate, they can also hurt physical store sales since many users still prefer to research online and buy offline. If the product photographs and overall website design fail to impress, the users won’t visit the physical store either.&nbsp;<h2>2. Faulty Navigation and Shopping Process</h2>If a visually appealing online shop fails to sell, it could be the fault of a poor user experience (UX) design. Don’t assume visitors have tons of time to spend on your site. People shouldn’t be expected to guess about what to do next. Reduce the number of scrolls and clicks required to make a purchase. Nothing should distract a user from shopping and buying.&nbsp;It’s a mistake to make visitors search for exclusive deals and hot prices. Neither should a search for items take a long time. Invest time and money into an excellent search experience for your users. If your online store offers a wide range of products, a prominent search box is necessary. The search must provide an optimal number of clear and easy-to-read results (consider using product image thumbnails for that). Test the placement, size, fonts, and colors of your search box: all of them can impact the user experience. Also, don’t forget to design a distinctive badge to add to product images when an item is out of stock.&nbsp;Blank pages with ‘No Results’ or ‘Page Not Found’ will stall the visitors’ shopping and may turn them away for good. Instead, suggest alternatives to the visitor’s search and design smart ways to direct them where you need to. Amazon’s solution is adorable, but you should know the target audience to find your own solutions. <img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/Gvkrcp0fX_oyF0MmGEewmxo_QMKfK9HZ.jpg" alt="what makes a good ecommerce site">If the user faces an overwhelming number of options, they still may leave as well. Usually, it’s not advisable to provide a choice of more than fifteen links to click on a page. Equally frustrating is the need to view different products’ pages to weigh each one’s pros and cons. Instead, let the visitors check the products they like and provide a cleverly designed page where they can compare the checked items.&nbsp;A complicated shopping process and nasty surprises during checkout cost retailers billions of dollars annually. The purchase process should be displayed clearly in an easy to understand format as early as possible in the buying process. All shipping, return and exchange policies, customer support pages, etc., ought to be linked on your homepage.&nbsp;Few things upset online shoppers more than seeing unexpectedly high shipping costs or the inability to use a certain payment method just before they are about to make a purchase. Display acceptable credit cards or other payment options, shipping costs, delivery charges, and other info in plain sight on the home and product pages.&nbsp;Even after the customer clicks ‘Add to Cart,’ blunders are still possible. Many e-commerce stores continue making a grave mistake by constantly pressing new visitors for registration. Those who want to buy just one product may be reluctant to sign up, or have no time and wish to make a purchase first and sign up later. Allow them to save items in the shopping cart as a guest and then come back to complete the purchase.&nbsp;Another mistake is to stun someone close to registering with an enormous form. Make sure the signup process is simple, painless, and takes no longer than 20 seconds to complete.&nbsp;Don’t forget about those who visit an online store to find the nearest physical store address. Place a store finder tab on the top or bottom right corner of the webpage. For an extensive network of shops, provide the ability to search by country, city, zip code or address.&nbsp;<h2>3. Trifles that Undermine Trust </h2>An outdated, poorly designed site and confusing shopping process hardly increase the users’ trust. But don’t neglect the elements that specifically promote trust. Otherwise, people might wish neither to purchase from you nor to share their private information.&nbsp;Testimonials and trustmarks belong to such ‘trifles.’ (The latter are thumbnails or logos marking a security guarantee by an external party.) Product reviews also can encourage potential buyers to purchase. However, the same elements on a big brand online store would be overkill. &nbsp;New online shops, especially those presenting a new brand, should not omit ‘About Us,’ FAQ, and ‘Contact Us’ pages. 24/7 hotline, live chat, or a <a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/chatbots-for-business-relevant-interaction-with-customers" target="_blank" class="ql-color-#1155cc" style="font-size: 18px;">chatbot system</a> can improve both customer service and your credibility. Add relevant information in the header and the footer of the website.&nbsp;&nbsp;The absence of social media links can be a mistake. Social network accounts facilitate both customer support and online shops’ promotion while social media sharing links on a product page help spread the word about a product.&nbsp;<h2>4. Annoying your Users</h2>It’s a bad idea to greet visitors with popups: they are outdated and spoil the user experience. Users hate filling out surveys, signing up for newsletters or sharing personal information without a clear reward. Bombarding them with popups makes things worse. Consider instead placing the promotion as banners on the sidebar of your pages. Users who want additional information will click the banner. <img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/z7TRWz2yG6rCbp6D1dRJPPcnH5bSUBDy.jpg" alt="e-commerce mistakes"> Advertisements that take over a webpage and make the user navigate around them are hazardous too. Your online store is not going to generate revenue primarily through paid advertising, is it? If so, give up all ads that interrupt the visitor’s time on your site. In fact, a good web designer avoids using any graphics that get in the way of users. &nbsp;<h2>5. Not Mobile-Friendly Online Store</h2>Do you know that average smartphone conversion rates of e-commerce websites are higher than those of desktops’? If you are not optimizing for mobile users, you are losing at least 50% of the conversion of your website. <img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/6LaiZKOnByQcWvu4g9MHoFlNymnV5arI.jpg" alt="what makes a good ecommerce site"> If possible, follow Ebay’s example and opt for a minimalist interface with easy navigation which is more suitable for smartphone and tablet screens. Streamline mobile checkouts, e.g., by encouraging customers to create sign-ins and save the data. However, you should also allow for guest checkout if they don’t want to store private information.&nbsp;If your online store is already well-optimized and user-friendly but not enough to increase sales, a brand new <a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/how-much-does-mobile-app-development-cost" target="_blank" class="ql-color-#1155cc" style="font-size: 18px;">mobile shopping application</a> might do the trick. It will help you reach a new audience or improve the user experience for the most mobile-centric groups.&nbsp;<h2>What Makes a Good E-commerce Site Then?</h2>Online stores are sophisticated systems which require constant iteration, keeping up to date with the best products and latest trends, and a robust data-driven multichannel marketing strategy. Everything should be aligned with that strategy, including the visual design of the e-commerce website, marketing techniques such as search engine optimization, email marketing campaigns, social media boosting customer advocacy, etc. &nbsp;Invest in an authentic, clean, and professional-looking website and the best personalized customer experience. An optimized UX reportedly can increase a site’s conversion rate up to drastic 400%! More information on what makes a good e-commerce site design is available <a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/9-most-important-design-features-of-a-selling-ecommerce-website" target="_blank" class="ql-color-#1155cc" style="font-size: 18px;">here</a>. &nbsp;If your current site falls short for some reason, it’s high time you sort it out. But be careful: a haphazard redesign may be counter-productive. Your web designer or team should understand what you’re really after and identify the points of friction that reduce your e-commerce store’s effectiveness. Onix embraces a holistic approach to UI/UX design and development to cater to the needs and preferences of online shoppers and help our customers succeed in this unprecedented era of online sales. Many thanks to Andrey Kreitor at <a href="https://onix-systems.com/ui-ux-design-and-development" target="_blank" class="ql-color-#1155cc" style="font-size: 18px;">Onix Design</a> for his assistance!

Owners of online stores need to know what makes a good e-commerce site and what design mistakes can ruin it. Get some useful tips here.

5 Tips on How to Design a Logo for Your Business

If you are reading this article, you may be one of those to whom ‘googol’ or ‘face book’ seem misspelled at first. And when you think of a twittering bird, you imagine it as blue as the sky, don’t you? But can you recollect the sign of the location where you’ve had coffee this morning? Probably not (unless it was Starbucks). No bias, just an example of the sign power. The difference between a great logo and a mediocre logo is the difference between being memorable and forgotten, noticed and ignored, and ultimately between a success and a failure.&nbsp;Are you starting a new venture? Building a website or mobile app for your business? Do you think your present logo no longer fits as the company emblem? Was it created more than ten years ago, in a hurry, and/or on a tight budget? If you answered ‘yes’ at least once, this article is for you.&nbsp;<h2>What Is a Logo for Your Business?</h2>Simply put, it is the heart and soul of your brand and the face of your business. A great logo creates a corresponding first impression of your business. It catches the eye of potential customers and enables you to stand out from your competitors.&nbsp;While your business sells goods or services, your branding and logo are selling feelings. They should evoke an anticipation of future benefits, the joy of belonging to a privileged group right now, or a sweet memory of past purchases. And the customers will want more!&nbsp;A cool professional logo tells everyone that you are… exactly, cool and professional. Even a garage startup of two guys instantly seems more trustworthy and competent if they invested in the professional design of its identity. So, if you are just starting ‘some kind of fruit company’, consider developing quality brand right away. Years later you won’t be ashamed of your first ‘oh-we-were-so-young’ logotype! <a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/first-hand-tips-for-high-converting-saas-website-design" target="_blank"><img src="https://onix-systems.com/web/uploads/G5KK9540JCsRMhunr8s38s6mgkHArvox.png"></a> <h2>But Do You Need a New One?</h2>Here are some of the common reasons showing it’s high time for a logo makeover or a massive rebranding:<ul><li>something is definitely wrong with the current situation, e.g., many people can’t get your business name right</li><li>your business mark and taglines seem old-fashioned</li><li>you are giving your entire business a makeover</li><li>the business is about to go online</li><li>you have introduced new products, or narrowed down from a wide range of services to one, etc.</li><li>you believe that changes will give the company a shot of new energy and its products will receive a boost</li></ul>&nbsp;Even if you don’t tick any of the boxes, there is always a chance to improve things with the power of graphic design. An expert logo designer can perform miracles. A wee font refresh here, a slight simplification there, some smoothing of the icon, and a little tint here and there can suddenly make your logo appealing for new demographics.&nbsp;The redesign does entail changes in every branded item, along with appropriate costs, but they will certainly pay off. A professionally designed website, business cards, company signage, etc., can elevate your brand to a whole new level, and the change in the brand will increase the company's reputation and can bring it new deals.&nbsp;<h2>What You Need to Know</h2>Let’s define some success criteria first. A great logo should<ul><li>be unique</li><li>combine creativity and precision</li><li>be memorable and easily recognized</li><li>garner attention</li><li>quickly and graphically express the positive attributes of the business</li><li>be appealing to your target audience (and preferably beyond!)</li><li>work consistently in multiple sizes and colors and in various media</li><li>be able to stay current for a decade or longer</li><li>be done by/in cooperation with a pro (full stop)</li></ul>&nbsp;Whether you wish to create a logo for a startup, or redesign an existing emblem, or embark on a total rebranding, make sure to get professional help. Even if you managed to come up with a cool design on your own - show it to an expert anyway. An experienced logo maker can tell whether or not the design will transfer easily into print or onto a banner stand when it comes to the development of promotional materials.&nbsp;Ask a logo designer for advice. They know how design elements impact customers on the conscious and subconscious levels. (The more reasonable it is to engage a pro: you wouldn’t let a dilettante meddle with the subconscious, would you?)&nbsp;Branding on a budget is a real deal. A good trademark ideally should last a decade, so if you look at the amortization of its cost over that period, it won’t seem that much. You can view portfolios of great studios and independent designers on their websites and social media; thousands of them are sure to charge less than a local design studio does. But don't be focused on the low price: the skills, experience, and knowledge of your field and needs are the priority.&nbsp;Whether you wish to gain awareness, attract your first clients, or build authority in your niche, it is crucial to know what makes your audience tick. Look at the signs of other businesses in the industry and think about how to differentiate your symbol from those.&nbsp;Time to think about your logotype format. There are basically three kinds to choose from:<ol><li>Font-based logos consist primarily of a type treatment that makes them distinctive.</li><li>Signs that literally illustrate what a company does.</li><li>Abstract graphic symbols whose meaning is based on underlying associations.</li></ol>&nbsp;Before selecting a format or a combination thereof, it makes sense to play around with very different ideas. The team can fill some notebook pages with rough sketches or utilize one of the online logo makers. The latter <a href="https://secure.logomaker.com/logomakerv3/" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;"><a class="external" href="https://secure.logomaker.com/logomakerv3/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">create a logo</a></a> design by automatically matching graphics with text. A nice, free and easy-to-use tool for testing ideas, but be careful using the results; such automatically generated marks, like clip art, can be copied by others too easily.&nbsp;<a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/9-most-important-design-features-of-a-selling-ecommerce-website" target="_blank"><img src="https://onix-systems.com/web/uploads/6q09WiYvzw-z9y94HprrUjn4Uryy0rJP.png"></a> <h2>5 Tips on How to Create a Great Logo</h2>Whether you are struggling to make a logo for your business yourself, or working with a professional logo designer, here are five basic principles to consider:&nbsp;1. Be clever and enticing. Best logos are filled with obvious and hidden positive meanings. Try to incorporate a little mind game, pun, or another witty interpretation of concepts into the design.&nbsp;Recently, when designing for <a href="https://10adventures.com/" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;"><a class="external" href="https://10adventures.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">10 Adventures</a></a>, Onix team includedan X-shaped&nbsp;element into the new logo. The X represents both the Roman number 10 and a mark on a hiking or treasure map, alluding to adventures. It’s also a common reference to ‘unknown’ (e.g., Planet X), which drives the symbol’s meaning deeper to destinations, exploration, and discoveries.<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/2U28e1pd1MiW3sAAhRg0rfPZfr58YJDR.jpg" alt="10 adventures logo">2. Choose, or preferably develop, easy-to-read fonts to add deeper meaning to text and give your emblem a unique feel.&nbsp;Take a look at Onix’ own logo. The ‘X’ actually derives from the initial ‘O’: the circle was cut and the halves were rearranged into an ‘X’. This brings to mind cells, chromosomes, creation, development, and evolution - which is perfectly in line with our tagline. The slightly futuristic font not only simplifies the look, but also renders the spirit of the young forward-looking company.&nbsp;<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/l1Eu_r5gFyv9QrnNcvt-tDQeN7W293Ka.jpg" alt="onix logo compared">3. Keep the logo as simple as possible. Simplest shapes prove to be most powerful and the best to stand the test of time. Opt for clean monoline designs using elegant shapes, fonts, and negative space that focus on a single message. For instance, the underlying round and square shapes in Onix’ sign are associated with the company’s flexibility and stability, as well as the human and technical aspects of its operations.<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/ils1TcUhZ12Tt0xQmoNoMgaquWIH5eXf.jpg">4. Make sure the chosen colors carry right meanings and communicate the right ideas about your brand. Do a color study, look at your design in one-, two- and three-color versions.&nbsp;<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/17Ae-dJbDZ8b_oKdGRCDXm_Iy3QjXkZK.jpg" alt="colors and ideas"><img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/EReQ0kJDTZwCouyYoN2nWirS939gEgcS.jpg" alt="onix logo sketch book">The yellow in 10 Adventures’ brand is the color of joy, energy, optimism, and adventurousness. Onix’ blues reinforce the message of professionalism and success. But remember that a great logo should function as well in grayscale. (We can go as far as to say that a perfect logotype is a no-color logotype.)&nbsp;5. Avoid the cliché and short-lived design fads. Only a unique concept of a logo makes it instantly recognizable, and only original art can make an impressive statement about your business.&nbsp;Once you have developed a well-designed symbol, apply it on- and off-line wherever your business name is mentioned to build your image and raise the company's visibility. Start with using it as an avatar or a cover/background picture for the business’ social media accounts. For email marketing campaigns, add a small logo to the email signature section.&nbsp;On your website, place the new emblem on each page and make it clickable to lead to the homepage. Use it as the favicon (a small image that appears next to the URL of a web page in a browser). If there is none yet, engage a designer to develop a new <a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/first-hand-tips-for-high-converting-saas-website-design" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;">landing page</a> or a fully customized WordPress theme for the company.<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/6GAyZv439gQHsg76HI7SnYs1UsIz2jd2.jpg" alt="10 adventures home page">Incorporate the design into your business card, a presentation template, documents like invoices, receipts, headed paper, and customer service materials, as well as notebooks, mugs, T-shirts, and other merchandise promoting the business. Make sure to bring a pile with you when attending the next industry conference or exhibition. Integrate the new emblem into interior design of the office and other elements of your branding!<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/Eg--Cgcn8xRO74-VGeaYJKjFKeyn3_7d.jpg" alt="cards design">A new symbol or a whole website is cause for celebration, so make an event of it! Throw a party for the team and loyal clients, or run a competition on the new website to motivate people to visit it. Use any opportunity for creating a buzz around your business on that occasion!&nbsp;<h2>To Sum Up</h2>A strategically developed logotype is a positive and recognizable symbol of a business. It is particularly important for new entrepreneurs, but if you wish to take your existing business, service/product, or even yourself to the next level, it’s high time to refresh your emblem or to get a brand new (!) one.&nbsp;Whether developing or re-designing a logo for your business, keep the customers and the nature of your brand in mind. Make sure the logo is simple and clean, memorable and distinctive. The shapes, fonts, and colors should look cohesive and support the concept. The emblem should be scalable and easy to reproduce virtually on everything.&nbsp;Onix Design is passionate about brand identity and logos as much as about mobile and web design. If you contemplate anything, why not <a href="https://onix-systems.com/contact-us" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;">discuss</a> how we can cooperate for the successful future of your product or business?&nbsp;(Special thanks to Richard Campbell, Founder/CEO of <a href="https://10adventures.com/" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;"><a class="external" href="https://10adventures.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">10 Adventures</a></a>, for the kind permission to mention the logo design and to use the images in this article)&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>READ MORE ABOUT UI/UX DESIGN:</h3><a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/first-hand-tips-for-high-converting-saas-website-design" target="_blank"><img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/NJ968ryy9jOY1z23Wnyr4fnfh0kNZyoV.jpg" alt="SaaS design"></a><a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/9-most-important-design-features-of-a-selling-ecommerce-website" target="_blank"><img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/WhBKjwXikNbg7Cs9wuN2VRwAzJrvMUjj.jpg" alt="ecommerce design"></a>

In this article, you can find some tips for creating a great logo for your business, whether you do it yourself or with a professional logo designer.

A Unicorn: The Tale of a Full-Stack Designer

Full-stack developers have been around for years, but the arrival of ‘full-stack designers’ seems to have caused quite a buzz in the IT industry. Some welcomed it as another forerunner of the cross-disciplinary era. Employers rejoiced: one man who is worth two or three regular team members is a unicorn! The ‘unicorns’ were happy as well: the employers are now able to distinguish them from the ‘regular’ peers on job boards. And some of the peers felt that being mere ‘designers’ was now going to reduce their qualification to someone pushing pixels around.&nbsp;The more you look into the details, though, the more doubts are gnawing at you. Is it really a new breed? How full should the stack be to justify the title? Everybody seems to have a different idea of what a full-stack designer should be and what they should do. This brings about another question: has anyone ever seen that unicorn?&nbsp;<h2>Of the Unicorn</h2>There is neither a standard definition of the term ‘full stack designer’, nor a universally accepted list of skill sets for the qualification. The spectrum of opinions on a person possibly hiding behind the title on a CV is vast:&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul><li>an expert in strategy, user research, interaction design, and visual design</li><li>a versatile visual designer who can do illustration, print, websites and mobile app design</li><li>a web-designer who understands the programming languages well enough to communicate with developers in their native language</li><li>a designer who understands the technical side of the product and can fulfill the design to a working prototype by himself</li><li>a cross-disciplinary individual who is able to design, handle copywriting, figure out code, etc., to provide overall solutions to a variety of areas linked to the user experience</li><li>a multi-skilled person able to tackle every layer of software development single-handedly</li><li>a web designer who can do back-end development and databases work</li><li>a web developer who is for any reason designing more than developing anything</li><li>a person who has tried to be everything but is not sure what should be their specialty</li><li>another marketing phrase that job agencies use to categorize IT personnel</li></ul>&nbsp;There seems to be no agreement on the scope of the full-stack designer tasks during the software product development either. Some limit it to the phases from UX design (including research, wireframing, and prototyping) to the front-end development (HTML/CSS/JS, etc.). Others argue that HTML and CSS is not coding anymore, since coding is happening the visual way now. And some envision their participation continuing well into the issues of the released product’s monetization. And who knows what follows next.&nbsp;The truth is always somewhere in between, isn’t it?&nbsp;Is a ‘full-stack designer’ a new phenomenon, in the first place? We are sure it isn’t. It’s typical for small teams, especially startups, to have members that play multiple roles. Haven’t you heard stories of designer co-founders who were there from the very beginning, when the company didn’t even have a product yet? They did the research, branded it and created pitch decks, generated innovative ideas, designed and brought the designs to life, project-managed and marketed, they improved the product on and on... And now they are legends while other designers are still a fundamental part of the product.&nbsp;The borders between design and front-end development were always thin. Nowadays, you can see almost every front-end developer not only coding, but also building prototypes with the tools like Axure, Proto.io, etc. On the other hand, more and more designers are using tools that generate static pages with beautiful semantic code. The evolution of team collaboration has forced many web designers to learn UX design, work alongside a copywriter or developers, and even to manage web development.&nbsp;Agile methodologies have been breaking down the interdisciplinary walls for years. As a result, UX designers in an Agile team are heavily involved during pre-project phase, project initiation and project execution, and are now supposed to:&nbsp;<ul><li>work closely with the product owner to understand their vision for the product and to define and refine the user stories</li><li>propose a design that supports product vision with a good user experience</li><li>collaborate with the developers to ensure technical feasibility of the proposed user experience</li><li>test the proposed UX design with real users in user research</li></ul>&nbsp;…and much more, as may be required by the team and the project. Isn’t it more than you’d expect from a mere cog in the machine, a creator of wireframes and graphical user interfaces? And still, not all of Agile UX/UI designers rush into titling themselves ‘full-stack’.&nbsp;<h2>Advantages of a Full-Stack Designer</h2>The first to cross your mind is probably the familiarity with proper development process and its limitations: it is a widespread belief that designers who understand code produce more realistic prototypes.&nbsp;Another major advantage of a full-stack designer is a more thorough understanding of the user’s needs and motivations, structure of the product, development process, marketing, and other details that create the context of a product development. Such comprehensive thinking ultimately results in higher quality of the UX/UI design.&nbsp;A full-stack designer must be a great asset to any team because of their ability to step in at any phase of a project and help out even outside their area of focus. In addition to traditional designer’s duties, a ‘full-stack’ one might assist the product manager, complete the pre-concept for the entire project, facilitate brainstorming, do basic planning, conduct user research, do the testing and front-end development, participate in the project handover, etc.&nbsp;Everyone enjoys a smoother cooperation and better grasp of the whole project picture, and employers benefit from keeping teams lean and diversified with less people. Very short of perfection, isn’t it?&nbsp;<h2>Even the Unicorn Has Spots</h2>Unfortunately, we know too well that neither unicorns nor perfection can exist. First of all, no one can be an expert in everything, even if ‘everything’ is limited to only software product development. With the industry growing at such a fast rate, there is something new to learn by the end of each day. Having dozens of technologies, practices, and skills to keep up to date, it’s easy to lose the focus, but increasingly difficult to find the time for everything.&nbsp;It is also hardly possible to be able to assume every role in the development process. For example, there will always be a need for research, business analysis, or a project manager to mediate between the various figures. There is no replacement for developers either.&nbsp;Both designers and developers generally doubt a person’s ability to do both jobs equally well. It takes a certain type of person to be a good programmer or a good UXer. If you are not a natural born programmer, it may take you years to get to the level sufficient for building your own designs.&nbsp;They also seem to fear lest a full-stack designer should go the full distance only to fail at really great design in the end. It’s easy to explain. If a designer has to think how he or she is going to implement something before they have even tried to design it, the freedom of their original design thinking is instantly limited by the need to consider the constraints of their own development skills.&nbsp;Designers of websites and mobile apps certainly need to know what the technology can or cannot do, but those who try to do both may end up diluted and lose their design skills. For this reason major companies and entrepreneurs interested in best UX/UI will always prefer specialists to ‘all round designers’ or ‘full-stack designers’.&nbsp;And still it must be the universal hunt for full-stack designers that has either reduced their number or made them elusive to the extent they seem to be as rare… not quite as unicorns, but almost as dragons in the Game of Thrones universe. So, if you are unbelievably lucky to hire a true full-stack designer, get ready to work with one of the most formidable, high-paid, stressed-out, and sought-after specialists. But if you are not so lucky…&nbsp;<h2>What about UX/UI Designers?</h2>When a truck gets stuck at the entrance to a tunnel, it can be lowered to the clearance level by simply letting the air out of the tires. Maybe we also need to let some of the air out of the designers’ ambitions and the companies’ requirements for a ‘full-stack designer’ for the idea to work.<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/xBhTn4OJCa2Ol_LdT2tLisscsFzn6st1.jpg" alt="full stack and ui ux designers">We can’t help feeling the generic description of a full-stack designer is actually what a good UX designer is supposed to be. All the elements are requirements for a good UX as part of the whole process and life cycle of a product. Just as a good developer is required to know more than just coding, a good UXer must know enough to better make use of available resources and expertise for the problem-solving side of the business.&nbsp;It seems that for some designers being ‘full-stack’ is just about the technical part, but is it correct? With more and more tools labeled ‘No Coding Required’ in the market, designers are able to execute their work without writing a single line of code. If a team has brilliant developers who are also team-players, why should a product designer ever bother to solve code issues in the time they might invest into product design improvement? They say the frontend is evolving too fast for a designer to keep up with best practices and new ways of writing code. Others go further by claiming that a full-stack designer doesn't have to be a developer at all as it is an absolutely different ‘stack’.&nbsp;Being full-stack obviously refers to someone who has the skill set required to deliver a well-designed finished product. From this we deduce that the required ‘stack’ may largely depend on each project’s specifications and the organization’s needs.&nbsp;It is not a requirement for full-stack designers to master everything perfectly, but they definitely must have a ‘full-stack’ mindset. Continued education has always been a part of our fast-paced&nbsp;and diverse industry. Any UX/UI designer is expected to keep learning, enriching their skill-tree, and following up the design trends and technology, new patterns, and new tools.&nbsp;If it is hard to say which particular assets and skills are critical to have, the best way is to ask oneself:&nbsp;<ol><li>What will make you more valuable at what you do? For most designers, that means pursuing a deeper understanding of the science and psychology behind user experience design, focusing on print and branding design, or (still!) learning to code.</li><li>What skills will help your project team? Every new skill acquired outside the UX/UI field means an ability to speak in a common language with every team member.</li></ol>&nbsp;To be on top of the latest stuff in design and to contribute in ever new ways, UX designers must stay open-minded, always focused on searching for more efficient tools and for opportunities to learn and research. Even if a designer falls short of a real ‘full-stack’ (whatever it means), even if only a small subset of their extra skills is being utilized, it still improves their own performance, helps everyone involved in the product development, and improves the product.&nbsp;<h2>Full-Stack or not Full-Stack</h2>All-around IT personnel is going to be a career trend in the future. Ye goode olde days when UI designers finished their job by sending PSDs to a developer are over. Change is happening, roles are shifting, skill sets are expanding, and the market puts more responsibility on UX designers than ever before.&nbsp;The ‘full-stack’ addition to a designer’s title does not mean being an expert in everything or the ability to carry out the entire software product development single-handedly. Neither does its absence indicate a designer’s inability to contribute to the product throughout the development cycle.&nbsp;Full-stack or not, a <a href="http://design.onix-systems.com/projects" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;">good UX/UI designer</a> remains crucial for the product. A specialist in their own field, but with an eye for how stuff works: what the user needs, psychology, marketing, user research, the code, testing, how to innovate and monetize, and much more. A ‘full-stack’ UXer should thoroughly understand what a product should do for the customer, the company, and the users, and pair the understanding with the constant pursuit of the best user experiences possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>READ MORE ABOUT UI/UX DESIGN:</h3><a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/9-most-important-design-features-of-a-selling-ecommerce-website" target="_blank"><img src="https://onix-systems.com/web/uploads/Mho_9JQMHFe4EzpQJ7mggX5nkTyWfnsS.png"></a> <a href="https://onix-systems.com/blog/how-to-organize-a-fun-design-hackathon-and-get-most-out-of-it" target="_blank"><img src="https://onix-systems.com/web/uploads/0LEhN1bUJukIvCe5OaggBoXDWz_o7Kxg.png"></a>

Today’s IT industry puts more responsibility on designers than ever before, driving the demand for ‘full-stack designers.’ But is this ideal attainable?

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How to Organize a Fun Design Hackathon

With a busy work schedule, finding time for implementing your own creative ideas is a tough challenge. Developing and nurturing ideas and turning them into state-of-the-art design requires time and effort. So, where and how to find room for creative growth?&nbsp;To soothe the hunger for creativity, our team of designers has come up with the idea of an eight-hour hackathon, where the team would walk the full path from an idea generation and discussion to&nbsp;detailing and creating a graphic design of a service product. In this article, we want to share our experience of conducting such a team hackathon.&nbsp;<h2>Organize your time before you start</h2>The eight-hour hackathon was divided into precise time segments to ensure our team had enough time for the most important phase, design implementation.&nbsp;We set two hours to conduct a discussion and brainstorming and to prepare a detailed wireframe. The remaining six hours were dedicated to design teamwork.&nbsp;Make sure you keep your time under control. Check when each hackathon phase begins and has to end because the time is limited.&nbsp;<h2>Talk to find your winner idea!</h2>From a list of possible ideas (which we prepared beforehand), we had to pick one that represented a new service and could be completed in less than a day of active teamwork.&nbsp;To make the best decision, we read every idea out loud and brainstormed, adding more details to it to understand how a service should work.&nbsp;<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/U47nSU6cnqyrtBd8S6lsn52zzPRiU0n8.jpg" alt="Onix team discussing ideas for the hackathon">&nbsp;An important requirement of our hackathon was an equal involvement of all team members in the discussion and idea evaluation for viability. Smooth talks and the time ticking and we came to a unanimous decision of designing an online service for office workers - sending messages about awkward and embarrassing issues to colleagues.&nbsp;<h2>So, what’s in the idea?</h2>So many office workers face inconvenient issues with their colleagues, complaints that you don’t feel comfortable to express in an open dialogue. Noisy neighbors, poor hygiene and many other irritating and frustrating things happen in the office every day, but sometimes you can’t say it directly to your coworker.<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/dOcF1Y9psqw-PHNz25BgxyYrO2UzM5Fb.jpg" alt="sketch for a web project"> &nbsp;Our designers have come up with an email service that allows office workers to send “shame” emails to their colleagues and inform them about an existing problem. The sender remains incognito and the recipient doesn’t know who exactly sent the message.&nbsp;<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/mnLTb2sCgpYRwNEuhoER7wS6P-vMRrs2.jpg">&nbsp;One hour of our hackathon was dedicated to work on details and how such a service should work.&nbsp;The idea development initiated a discussion about a userflow of our product. It had to be made super easy and convenient.&nbsp;<h2>Teamwork above everything</h2>Teamwork allowed all our participants to try uncommon roles of active discussion participants and idea critics. When you work as one team in an informal setting, disclosing your point of view is not scary at all and it unites the participants. This part of the hackathon was a real fun!&nbsp;<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/33MvoPl8Dm-hZ6ZQekEpeyYgDFazzQIV.jpg" alt="teamwork during the hackathon"> &nbsp;While the discussion was in progress, we were making paper sketches and one of the designers was also working on a wireframe structure. This saved us a lot of time, so having someone on your team who can participate in brainstorming and work on a laptop is a big bonus.&nbsp;After the first two hours of hackathon we ended up having a fully-structured wireframe.&nbsp;<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/uXP8LofQj7NI_DHjVbFiuGFcBwV-wr7l.jpg" alt="project evolution">&nbsp;And we are ready to start the real design!&nbsp;<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/qEh9qwKP0Ug72roVyY0yjpWrdcFTtnf3.jpg" alt="from a wireframe to design"> &nbsp;And, of course, another important tip for a creative hackathon - prepare enough food to support your brainstorming and the design ripening process. Don’t keep your team hungry!&nbsp;<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/2gcAUQxQzXi4ZYWRYYBvSYmi_kSQ-6ne.jpg" alt="having fun as a team">&nbsp;Using our detailed wireframe, we divided the tasks between three designers: working on a logo and illustration, designing icons and creating a style for this webpage.&nbsp;<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/ndHSAdN8wq6KKJHNEgQWg4dUr3ikYhXT.jpg" alt="working on design ">&nbsp;<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/Pjg7lgEtmNIuYq0bdIFXyXSuIgh74o82.jpg" alt="working on design">&nbsp;<img src="https://onix-systems.com/storage/74Uymr6Ya4s7B9KYSKJWV4GhndgIaKdt.jpg" alt="working on design">&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://design.onix-systems.com/projects" target="_blank">Click here to see our DESIGN PORTFOLIO!</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

A UX design hackathon creates new, time-limited challenges, but also teaches the participants to negotiate and discuss.  